Average turnout expected in Sheboygan's Tuesday election

Feb. 15, 2013

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Sheboygan election officials are expecting average turnout for Tuesday’s primary election, which features a Wisconsin Supreme Court race and the city’s second mayoral primary in a little more than a year.

City Clerk Sue Richards said spring primary races in Sheboygan typically draw about 20 to 25 percent of registered voters, and she expects this election to fall in that same range.

“It’s been much quieter than I would expect with a mayor’s race, but I would certainly hope that we break the 20 percent mark,” Richards said.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

The mayor’s race features two veteran Sheboygan politicians and a freshman alderman, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the April 2 election.

Incumbent Terry Van Akkeren, 58, has held the mayor’s job since last spring and is seeking to continue a more than two-decade political career that has included stints at the state Assembly, Sheboygan Common Council and Sheboygan County Board.

He’ll be challenged by longtime Sheboygan County Supervisor Mike Vandersteen, 60, and Ald. John Belanger, 52, who joined the Common Council last spring.

The mayor’s race follows last year’s recall election sparked by former mayor Bob Ryan’s struggles with alcohol. Van Akkeren emerged from an eight-way primary race in January 2012 and then defeated Ryan a month later to serve out the remainder of Ryan’s term.

Other races on the ballot Tuesday include a four-way primary for Wilson Town Board chairman. In that race, incumbent David Gartman is being challenged by Town Supervisor Daniel Rostollon, along with Timothy Rakun, a self-employed contractor, and Frederick Pankratz, a former Plan Commission member.

The state Supreme Court race pits incumbent Justice Pat Roggensack against attorney Vince Megna and Marquette University law professor Ed Fallone. The position brings a 10-year term on the state’s highest court.